LPA upgraded to Tropical Depression ‘Gener’

DAVAO CITY, Philippines —A low-pressure area (LPA) within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has developed into a tropical depression named “Gener,” with several areas in Luzon now under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, according to the weather bureau on Monday.

As of 8 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that Gener was located 315 kilometers northeast of Casiguran, Aurora. The tropical depression has maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and wind gusts reaching up to 55 km/h, moving west at 10 km/h.

PAGASA forecasts that Gener will generally move west to west-southwest until Wednesday afternoon, after which it is expected to turn west-northwest to northwest for the remainder of the forecast period.

Gener is anticipated to make landfall in either Isabela or Aurora province within the next 24 hours and may exit the PAR by Wednesday. The weather bureau added that Gener is likely to experience limited intensification over the next two days but is expected to reach Tropical Storm status by Wednesday after emerging over the West Philippine Sea.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 has been issued for the eastern and central portions of mainland Cagayan, including Piat, Santo Niño, Camalaniugan, Tuao, Lal-Lo, Enrile, Gonzaga, Alcala, Amulung, Santa Teresita, Baggao, Buguey, Solana, Rizal, Santa Ana, Tuguegarao City, Gattaran, Peñablanca, Iguig, Lasam, Aparri, Ballesteros, Allacapan, and Abulug; Isabela; Quirino; and the eastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, including Alfonso Castaneda, Kasibu, Dupax del Norte, Quezon, Diadi, Bayombong, Ambaguio, Bagabag, Villaverde, Aritao, Bambang, Dupax del Sur, and Solano.

The alert also includes the eastern and southern portions of Apayao (Conner, Flora, Pudtol, Santa Marcela, Luna, Kabugao), Kalinga, the eastern and central portions of Mountain Province (Paracelis, Sadanga, Bontoc, Natonin, Sabangan, Barlig), Ifugao, Aurora, the eastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Bongabon, Gabaldon, Laur, General Tinio, Rizal, General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City), and the northern portion of Mainland Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real), including the Polillo Islands.

PAGASA indicated that minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible in areas under Wind Signal No. 1.

In addition to Gener, a tropical storm named “Pulasan,” located outside the PAR, will enhance the southwest monsoon (habagat), affecting Mimaropa, the Bicol Region, the Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and the Davao Region.

A gale warning is in effect for the western and southern seaboards of southern Luzon, the seaboards of the Visayas, and the western, northern, and eastern seaboards of Mindanao. Sea travel is risky for small seacrafts, including all types of motor bancas, PAGASA advised.- with a report from PNA